Latches



y 1962 M. T. PHELPS 3,035,862

LATCHES Filed Nov. 10, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTCR ATTORNEY y 1962 M. T. PHELPS 3,035,862 LATCHES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1959 fin. 5

INVENTOR 7774/60/72? f/ kd as BY fFiA w /l/w ATTORNEY United States Patent Of 3,035,862 LATCHES Malcolm T. Phelps, Jamestown, N.Y., assignor to Weber- Knapp Company, Jamestown, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 10, 1959, Ser. No. 852,146 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-302) This invention relates to improvements in latches for the covers of caskets and, more particularly, to latches to be used in the closing and securing of covers on caskets of the so-called sealer type. In sealer type caskets, the edges of the casket body and/ or cover are provided with resilient marginal strips which, when compressed by an appropriate latching means, effect an air seal as between the meeting edges of the casket body and cover.

The means by which the covers of caskets are secured in closed position is, in many instances, of little importance, provided such means is reasonably positive and is not inappropriately noticeable. There are, however, other instances wherein the cover of a casket is required to be secured in such manner as to efiect a seal as between the free edges of hte casket body and cover. Latches for such caskets, commonly known as the sealer type and referred to above, are diflicult to manufacture and are found to be only partially satisfactory in creating the desired air seal as between the casket body and cover. This may be better appreciated when it is known that the sealant material, carried by either the body or the cover, could only produce the desired results when the latch parts are mounted in the casket body and cover. This type of latch must be of substantial proportions and, although perhaps not difi'icult to manufacture, is difficult and expensive to mount or install for the simple reason that the operative latch parts must be fitted into suitable areas in the body and cover, welded or otherwise secured in place and then sealed in one Way or another to prevent transference of air when the latch has been operated to secure the casket cover in closed position. In other words, generally speaking, currently produced latches for caskets of the sealer type require special fittings, gaskets, or other seals and do not necessarily give assurance that a casket cover, when so latched, will be fully sealed.

The present invention has been devised primarily with the object of providing a latch that, as obtained from the manufacturer, is applicable to the exterior surfaces of a body and cover without first preparing suitable areas for attachment of the latch parts to these surfaces other than the simple expedient of drilling a few screw holes at designated places.

It is another object of the invention to provide a latch structure wherein the relatively moving parts, during the final movement of closoing the cover, provide added leverage in order that the resilient sealant material carried by either the body or cover will be sufficiently compressed to effect the required and desirable seal as between the edges of the casket body and cover.

Not only is it an important object of the invention to provide a simple construction that is easily manufactured and may be assembled on a casket as and when desired, but also to provide a latch which, when mounted, occupies a protected inconspicuous position beneath the overhanging edge of the cover when the cover occupies a closed position with respect to the casket body.

Of course, as required in latches of this nature, the present invention, when operated to secure a cover in sealing relation with the casket body, so positions the operative parts that they cannot inadvertently be released.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be 3,035,862 Patented May 22, 1962 more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a latch embodying the invention, the parts being shown in position to secure the cover of a receptacle, of the nature of a casket, in closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top elevational view of the latch, with the latch mechanism exposed and an enclosure therefor, preparatory to mounting;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the latch mechanism, being taken substantially as suggested by the line 3-3 of FIG 2, the operative parts of the latch being as positioned in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and shows the position of the operative parts when the latch has been moved into partially opened or closed position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 and shows the position of the operative parts and the operative lever when the latch is fully released; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

Referring particularly to the drawing, the reference numerals 10 and 11 are employed to generally designate a receptacle and cover, respectively. Although the present disclosure of the receptacle and cover is only suggestive, it is believed adequate for the disclosure of the present invention and may be assumed to be a fragmentary front portion of a receptacle and cover of the nature of a casket and cover of the so-called sealer type. The cover 11 is conventionally hinged along one side of the receptacle 10 but, since the hinge structure and general contour of the casket are not pertinent to the present invention, the present disclosure thereof is deemed adequate.

As shown in section in FIG. 6, the front wall 12 of the receptacle has an inturned flange 13. It may, of course, be assumed that this wall and flange are integral and continue into the receptacle ends and a similar rear wall. The cover .1 1 is intended to overlap the front wall 12 of the receptacle and includes an upstanding wall portion 14 and inturned horizontal flange 16. Only a portion of the flange 16 overlaps the receptacle to approximately the extent shown in FIG. 6. Since the present invention is particularly applicable to latching caskets of the sealer type, the inturned flange '13 of the receptacle serves to mount the sealing material 17. The forward portion 18 of this material is tubular in cross section and intended to be somewhat compressed when contacted by the flange 16 of the cover 11; this being for the purpose of providing an air protective seal as between the receptacle and cover when the cover is drawn into fully closed position. continuations of the sealing material which would be compresesd correspondingly with the sealing material shown in FIG. 6.

Attention is now particularly directed to the latch structure by which the cover 11 may be properly secured to the receptacle 1t). Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the latch is shown to include a base plate 19 of a generally elongated nature which, at its ends, is secured by screws 21 to the front Wall '12 of the receptacle, the upper edge of the plate 19 being flush with the upper flange 13. The screws 21 are fitted with suitable sealing material in order that there may be no transference of air in this vicinity when the cover is closed and in sealing position on the receptacle. Such screws are common to the trade and further description thereof is deemed unnecessary. At its ends, the plate is provided with forwardly extending flanges 22 and 23. Each flange has one or more indents 24 in the outer surface thereof. Toward one end of the plate, an upwardly opening slot.

Of course, the ends of the receptacle include 26 is made, being of a depth approximately half the width of the plate. The lower edge of this slot may be seen to be defined by a semi-circular edge 27 which is in the plane of the plate. However, the side walls 28 of the slot are offset slightly forwardly, substantially as suggested in the various figures and particularly in FIGS. 2 and 6. A slide bar 29, having an elongated slot 31, is mounted on the plate 19 by means of pins 32 and a snap-in locking strip 33. This plate is subject to movement in a horizontal plane a distance permitted by the spacing of the pins 32 and the length'of the slot 31. For convenience, as well as simplification and e imination of bulk, one end of the bar 29 is fashioned with a hook 34. As may be seen in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, this hook has a camlike inner surface 3-5 and is open in one direction of travelof the bar 29.

The hand-1e portion 37 of a manually operable lever 36 continues in an arm 38 which is joined to the plate 19 by a pivot pin 39. This pin is located towards the end of the plate remote from the hook 34. A link 41 is joined at one end to the bar 29 by means of a pivot pin 42. The location of this pin is at the end of the bar remote from the hook 34. 'The other end of the link 41 is secured to the arm 38 by a pivot pin 43 which, as may be seen, is located approximately midway between the pin 39 and the innermost end of the handle 37. The location of the pivots, length of links, and general arrangement of the parts thus far described will be found to be of importance as operation of the latch is presented.

As has been stated, the cover 11 overlaps the front wall 12 of the receptacle. Attached to the overlapping portion of the cover flange 16, is a keeper member 44 which includes a base portion 46 secured to the flange 16 by screws of the nature of the screws 21. Centrally of the portion 46 is a pair of parallel spaced depending ears 47. The innermost ear 47A is proportioned and contoured to loosely fit the slot 26 in the base plate 19. The outer ear 47B may be of similar contour or, as shown, of slightly wider proportions to provide a suitable guide for the book when the parts are being relatively moved into latching position. Bridging the lower portion of the cars is a pin 48 on which a roller-like sleeve 49 is mounted.

The structural features of the latch above described are, of course, intended to be concealed and for this purpose an enclosure 51 is provided (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The top wall of this enclosure, as may be seen in FIG. 2, has a stepped recess; as at 52, for the purpose of providingfor movement of the keeper 44 into the enclosure and also'to allow horizontal movement of the hook 34 into engagement with the roller 49 of the keeper. Of course, this opening in the top wall of the enclosure is only exposed to view when the cover 11 is in openposition, for the reason that when the-cover is closed, the overlapping portion thereof completely conceals this opening. A portion of the bottom and one end wall of the enclosure are cut away, as at 53, substantially as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. The purpose of this is to permit movement of the lever 36 into the extreme positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Here again, the cut away in the bottom and end walls of the enclosure is not apparent since the'norm-al viewing point of a person is well above the casket itself. Theremaining portion of the cut away end is dimpled, as at 54, and the opposite end is similarly dimpled. When the enclosure 51 is mounted, the dimples at the ends thereof snap into the indents 24 in the end flanges 22 and 23 of the base plate 19. When the enclosure 51 is in place, the outer surface thereof is in the plane of the outer surface of the handle portion 37 and,

since the width of the handle and the enclosure is the same, the latch, when in securing position, provides a trim, plain, unobtrusive piece of hardware on the casket. Of course, it will be appreciated that the particular design of the handle 37 and the enclosure 51 may be modified as found suitable, without in any way altering the structural parts ofthe latch.

With the cover 11 in open position, the handle 37 and other operative parts, including the hook 34, are disposed substantially as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawing. When the cover 11 is moved into nearly closed position, the keeper 44 approaches the slot 26 in plate 19. At such time as the cover rests on the as yet uncompressed material 17, the ear 47A of the keeper has entered the slot 26, being guided by the offset slot walls 28. In this manner, the one or more latches for the casket cause the cover to adjust slightly, if necessary, one way or the other by this interfitting of the keeper with the plate 19. When the cover is in this position, approximately as shown in FIG. 5, the roller 49 of the keeper is slightly below the pointed end of the hook 34. The handle 37, when moved from the position of FIG. 5 to that of FIG. 4, causes the link 41 to slide the bar 29 in a direction to bring the point of the hook 34 above and upon the roller 49. This movement draws the keeper and, of course, the cover, downwardly and partially compresses the tubular portion 18 of the resilient material. Due to the cam surface 35 of the hook, further movement of the handle 37 toward and into the position shown in FIG. 3, causes the hook to apply additional pressure on the keeper and, thus, further compresses the tubular portion 18 of the resilient material.

It is pointed out that the advantages of the present mechanism are manifold. In the first place, the tubular portion 18 of the resilient material is initially readily compressible. However, as this portion becomes somewhat flattened, it is caused to spread laterally along the flange 16 of the cover and, thus, progressively greater force must be applied to so compress this portion as to create a proper seal. The free end of the hook, it will be noted, has a sharply cammed surface and thus initial movement of the "lever causes rapid hook movement to partially compress the tubular portion 18 (see FIG. 4). The connection 10f arm 33 through link 41 with bar 29 assures this movement. However, from this point on the portion becomes harder to compress and it is to be noted that the linkage now functions with a greater force and less movement in continuing to move the hook into final position; To sum up, the mechanism, during a latching operation, first operates rapidly, due to the cam surface and linkage arrangement, to partially compress the portion 18 and, as portion 18 becomes harder to compress, movement of the hook is slower, the cam surface more gradual, and the force applied through the linkage to the hook progressively greater. As above' mentioned, by reason of the arrangement and location of the linkage and pivot pins of the mechanism, it is contemplated that the link 41 must slightly pass a position of dead-center with the pivot pin 39 of the handle. This creates somewhat of a toggle action and assures that the handle 37 will at no time have a tendency to drop away from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form and application of use of the invention, it will be understood that variations in the structure may be made and are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention insofar as such variations are defined by the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent 'l. A latch structure for securing the free overlapping edge of a hinged cover in closed position on a receptacle, said structure comprising a base plate secured to the free vertical edge of said receptacle, a slidable bar mounted on said plate and movable in the direction of its length, a hook on one end of'said bar movable to overlie an upwardly opening slot in said plate, a pin-like keeper depending from the under edge of said cover adapted to enter said slot for position in the path of travel of said hook, a manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said plate, and toggle-like linkage connecting said lever with one end of said slidable plate.

2. A latch structure for securing the free overlapipng edge of a hinged cover in closed position on a receptacle, said structure comprising a base plate secured to the free vertical edge of said receptacle, said plate having an upwardly opening slot defined in part by forwardly 01T- set sides, a horizontally slidable bar mounted on said plate, a hook integral with and projecting upwardly from one end of said bar, a manually operable lever pivotally joined at one end to said plate, a link connecting said lever adjacent its pivot with said bar at the end remote from said book, a keeper member depending rom the overlapping free edge of said cover, said keeper member consisting of a pair of spaced parallel arms connected by a pin, and being so located that, upon moving said cover into approximately closed position, one of said arms will enter said slot whereby to guide said pin into the path of movement of said hook and be engaged thereby when said lever has been moved into one extreme position.

3. A latch structure for securing the free overlapping edge of a hinged cover in closed position on a receptacle, said structure comprising a base plate secured to the free vertical edge of said receptacle, said plate having an upwardly opening slot defined in part by forwardly offset sides, a horizontally slidable bar mounted on said plate, a hook integral with and projecting upwardly from one end of said bar, said hook opening in the direction of movement of said bar, the inner surface of said hook being cam-like, a manually operable lever pivotally joined at one end to said plate, a link connecting said lever adjacent its pivot with said bar at the end remote from said book, a keeper member depending from the overlapping free edge of said cover, said keeper member consisting of a pair of spaced parallel arms connected by a pin, and being so located that, upon moving said cover into approximately closed position, one of said arms will enter said slot thereby causing said pin to be positioned for engagement by the cam-like surface of said hook.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 476,910 Wells June 14, 1892 1,798,921 Wilson Mar. 31, 1931 2,703,431 Tatom Mar. 8, 1955 2,721,750 Rudis et al. Oct. 25, 1955 2,723,147 Slaughter et al Nov. 8, 1955 

